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Levy heads up Boulder Station's poker room

This month we visited with Bill Levy, the poker room manager at Boulder Station.

GT: Bill, what’s your background story?

BL: “My name is Bill Levy, and I’m 35 years old. I was born and raised on Long Island, N.Y. I have a wife, Allison, and we just had a little baby girl named Samantha. Sammie is 3 months old and she is our first and only child so far.

“My grandparents retired out to Vegas in the 70’s and I’ve been coming here since I was a child. I was able to experience MGM’s theme park, Luxor’s amusement rides and much more kids’ entertainment when I’d come visit them. Then, my parents retired here in 2004.

“My wife and I moved to Las Vegas in 2009. I decided then I was going to be a blackjack dealer. I’d been working on a golf course in New York as a greens keeper, and after being outside 365 days a year in all sorts of weather, I looked forward to working a job that wasn’t labor-based, and one that had air conditioning and heating.”

GT: How did you get into poker?

BL: “After breaking in at the Longhorn Casino on Boulder Highway, I moved down the road to Club Fortune Casino. At Club Fortune I began my poker career. I was hired as a table games dealer but on my breaks, I’d wander over to the small poker room and take lessons. My positive interactions with the guests and quick problem-solving abilities led to me being offered a floor position in the casino.

“I worked in the pit two days a week and in the poker room as a floor man for three days. I quickly found the poker department more suited to me and my personality.

“The opportunity came up for me to take a job at Texas Station in the poker room with no pit work, so I took it in 2012. I was named acting manager over there within the year. Eventually, I was transferred to Boulder Station.”

GT: Tell me about your room at Boulder Station. How many tables, games you spread, tournaments, amenities, etc.

BL: “Here at Boulder we have an 11-table room. We are notoriously known for our 4-8 limit high-only Omaha game. We offer 2-4 limit and 3-6 limit (with a full kill) as well as 1-2 no limit on the Texas Hold’em side. We offer no tournaments at Boulder; instead we prefer cash game action.”

GT: What makes your room popular or unique for players? What are their favorite games?

BL: “We have a cozy room with a core group of locals who love to play our Omaha game. We keep things fun and light hearted here, almost as if our guests were playing at home.”

GT: Any special events or promotions coming up?

BL: “One new thing I started here is a promotion tied into the Vegas Golden Knights. I am a huge hockey fan, and was raised as a N.Y. Rangers fan. I saw an opportunity to build a promotion around our new sports team and their out-of-nowhere success. We are doing a random, computer-based seat draw every time the Knights score a goal. Two players in the room win $100 each (one Hold’em player and one Omaha player). We are also doing Wild Bill’s High Hands from 6-10 p.m. with four winners where the highest hand of the hour on Hold’em gets $100.”

GT: What’s your take on the future popularity of poker?

BL: “Almost every year I hear that Omaha is the future of poker. When the future does get here I am very happy to be in a room that spreads Omaha on three tables nightly.”